Preface
Note on Transliteration, Dates and Abbreviations
Ismaili History and Historiography: Phases, Sources and Studies
Phases in Ismaili History
Evolution of Ismaili Historiography
Anti-Ismaili Writings of Other Muslims
The Assassin Legends of Medieval Westerners
Orientalist Perspectives
Modern Progress in Ismaili Studies
Notes
Origins and Early History: Shi’is, Ismailis and Qarmatis
Diversity in Early Islam
Origins of Shi’ism
Early History of Shi’ism: The Kaysaniyya and the Imamiyya
Ja’far al-Sadiq’s Imamate, Abu’l-Khattab and Isma’il
The Earliest Ismailis
The Da’wa of the 3rd/9th Century
The Schism of 286/899 and its Consequences
Early Ismaili Doctrines
Notes
The Fatimid Age: Dawla and Da’wa
Overview
Foundation and Consolidation of the Fatimid Caliphate
Fatimid Achievements under al-Mu’izz
Philosophical Ismailism of the Iranian Da’is
Fatimid Ismaili Da’wa and Da’is: Cairo and the “Islands”
The Nizari-Musta’li Schism of 487/1094
Later Fatimids and Early Musta’li Ismailism
Notes
The Alamut Period in Nizari Ismaili History
Overview
Hasan Sabbah and the Revolt of the Persian Ismailis
The Doctrine of Ta’lim and Consolidation of the Nizari State
The Nizari-Saljuq Stalemate
Proclamation of Qiyama or Resurrection
Rapprochement with Sunni Islam and al-Tu si’s Interpretations
The Final Decades
Notes
Later Developments: Continuity and Modernisation
Post-Alamut Patterns and Research Problems
Early Post-Alamut Centuries and Nizari Relations with Sufism
The Anjudan Revival in Nizari history
The Khojas and Satpanth Ismailism
The Bohras and Tayyibi Ismailism
Modern Developments in the Nizari Community
Notes